Hey Everyone! I'm so sorry that it took so long for me to post this! I hope
that it was worth waiting for! Now this chapter is a bit confusing at first
but everything comes into play near the end! It's another short one so it
won't be as hard to read! Well thanks for sticking with me this long! I
never thought I get to chapter 14! I mean 88 reviews! Wow! I don't deserve
them but thank you for them anyway! I just wanted to thank Mad Molly for
telling me to stick with this idea! You're the best Moll! I hope you like
this one! Enjoy!
Chapter 14
The scent of coffee mixed with bacon filled the room and I woke up to the soothing aroma. I stretched a little as my eyes slowly blinked themselves open. I reached over beside me to snuggle closer to Sodapop but when I looked over I realized that I was alone. I sat up in bed and noticed the door was open. A feeling of awkwardness spread over me and I realized that now I would have to face the people that probably despised me if Soda had told them what had happened. What were Darry and Ponyboy going to think of me when they found out that I had kissed Two-Bit and hurt their brother who they cared for so deeply. I lay back down in bed hoping to get back to sleep to postpone the inevitable but unfortunately I had been seen.
"Hey Kathryn," Darry yelled from the kitchen surprisingly cheerfully, "C'mon out here while it's still hot."
I sat up and nodded to him although on the inside I was extremely confused. Then I thought that maybe it had all been a dream but knew that it had been to real for that to have been possible no matter how hard I wanted that to be true.
"Uh," I replied as I was trying to think of an intelligent response. Then it came to me, "Yeah, Ok."
I quickly jumped out of bed and realized I was still fully clothed. I decided to change before I went to eat breakfast since I didn't want them to notice that I had been wearing the same thing as the day before and besides that, it was getting a little dirty. I quickly undressed and replaced my outfit with a simple white dress with yellow trim on the bottom and on the sleeves that buttoned up at the chest. It had been one of my favourites since it was so comfortable and I had practically lived in it the month that my mom bought it for me. I patted down my hair and was about to re-do it when I realized that I was simply eating breakfast and these people didn't care how I looked.
I walked down the hall far to nervous then I should have been, still wondering whether or not Sodapop had told his family what had happened. If he had I didn't know whether or not I could take the judging eyes of Darry and Pony.
"I made pancakes a bacon," Darry called out when I reached the kitchen, "You're favourite."
I nodded in appreciation even though my favourite was actually waffles and sausage but it didn't really matter to me. It was nice to know that Darry had been considerate enough to make what he thought was my favourite as opposed to their normal breakfast consisting of both chocolate cake and milk.
I sat down at the table and quickly glanced at Ponyboy who didn't look up from his plate across to Sodapop who was dressed in his DX shirt and hat who flashed his shining smile at me. I returned the gesture before glancing back over to Pony. He seemed to know I was looking at him since the sound of his fork scrapping at his plate seemed to quicken with anxiety until it finally stopped.
"What?" he asked looking up at me with hostility in his voice.
I knew then that Soda had indeed confided in Ponyboy his feelings of anger he had toward me last night and he was obviously still upset with me for hurting his brother.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said as sweetly as I could, "I-I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
He seemed to have a look of sympathy in his eyes before they returned to his plate but there was still a hint of antagonism behind them.
"Well, I gotta go to work." Soda said standing up. "If I'm late, both the boss and Steve'll kill me." He walked over and kissed my forehead before walking into the kitchen to put away his dishes.
I thought about Steve for a second. Then I remembered that Two-Bit had told that boy from the vacant lot to bring him here but last night I saw Pony sleeping on the couch and not him. I felt a pain in my stomach caused by worry when I thought of what he may have done if he didn't came back here.
"Soda," I called out to him, "Did Stevie come back here last night?"
He turned around without making contact with me as he looked up a Darry and then finally to me.
"Yeah honey he did," he said in a quiet voice, "but he was umm to drunk to know what he was doing and he tried to start something again and then he just ran out. I tried to stop him but he said that if I came near him he'd try to hurt me for good."
I didn't understand how something like that could have happened the night before and Sodapop could be joking about Steve killing him if he was late for work.
"Well is he alright," I said standing up out of my chair, "How do you know he got home?"
"Don't worry," Soda said walking over to me and putting his hands on my shoulders, "Buck Merrill stopped by and said he found him down by the Nightly Double and made sure he got home alright."
"Oh thank god." I said relieved. The I looked up at Soda, "Are you sure he won't still be cross with you when you get to work?"
"Nah," Soda said smiling, "Ol' Steve won't even remember a thing from last night. He was far to-"
Then I heard the door swing open and the sound of playful whoops fill the room. I looked over Sodas shoulder to see Steve and Two-Bit plop down on the couch as Darry went out to meet them. How could they be here after all that had happened last night and act like nothing had happened at all?
"See what I mean," Soda said kissing my forehead, "What did I tell you. Everything is back to normal."
I just nodded at him before he left to join his friends in the living room. What was he talking about? Nothing was normal at all. I couldn't understand how these people were just tiptoeing around something that back in Kansas would've change peoples lives.
Reluctantly I followed Soda into the room and was instantly greeted by Steve picking me up and spinning me twice as usual before placing me back on the ground.
"Katty," he said after putting me down, "Looking good in your cute little white dress."
"Thanks Stevie," I said following his cue of friendliness, "I like it."
"Yeah Kat," I heard Two-Bit's voice say from the couch, "You're sure you want Sodapop now," he continued jokingly while putting Soda in a headlock, "Because you can always come to me."
I just stood there in disbelief as he joked about a matter that only yesterday had been such an issue it had almost caused me to leave Soda and go with Two-Bit. I glanced over at Ponyboy and the expression on his face was indescribable. It was as though he was thinking exactly what I was thinking yet he was angry at his brother and Two-Bit for making a joke out of it.
It continued on like this for a while longer and I couldn't bear to watch so I hid from it in the kitchen while I washed dishes. It worked for a few minutes but soon my plan had failed when I was joined by Two-Bit.
"Need some help Kat?" he said grabbing a towel, before playfully raising his eyebrows up and down and saying. "I'm a pro dish dryer."
I just looked up at him saying, "No I think I got it." There was unwanted unfriendliness in my voice but I couldn't help feeling that they were implying that last night wasn't to be taken seriously and they were viewing it as some big joke.
"What's the matter with you," he said grabbing a dish, then smirking at me, "You should really learn to lighten up."
"Well excuse me if I take things a little more seriously then others." I told him coolly grabbing the dish back from him.
His smile faded as I looked away from him and he put his hands on my shoulders forcing me to look him in the eye.
"Hey," he said in his serious voice he had used last night, "Is something wrong? You can tell me you know."
My eyes narrowed a bit as I opened my mouth trying to think of the words to say but nothing came. I just shook my head releasing myself from his grip. I turned to leave but he grabbed my arm and gently spun him around.
"Listen," he said in the same voice, "It's different here alright. We don't talk about things that happen like maybe some other people do. We're all each other has and we don't waste time on fighting because we don't want to risk ruining our friendship. So don't take us not discussing last night personal all right. That's just the way we are."
I nodded to let him know that I understood a little but I was still a bit unsure about they're lifestyle. It was strange how things like that could just roll off their back without any emotion shown at all. It didn't seem right. I watched as Two-Bit left and went back to join Darry and Steve watching television.
"You should be mad Sodapop," I heard Pony's voice say from the dining room, "I mean he didn't have to go and kiss her."
I walked closer to where Ponyboy and Soda were obviously discussing what had happened and felt a little relieved to know that at least someone was. Although I was a little sad since Ponyboy was so upset.
"Aww baby," Soda said to his little brother reassuringly, "Why would I be mad. I mean hell; she's a great girl. He was probably just probably trying to make sure that he didn't love her. You know how important a kiss is. He was just seeing that his feelings were in fact just a crush rather than love. Besides, she came back didn't she? It's not like anything happened. She came here, not to his house."
"I guess you're right." Pony said finally, "But he still shoulda told you first. I just didn't like seeing you that upset Soda."
"It's okay now anyway Pony," He said, "Everything is back to normal." Then he yelled out to Steve, "Come on Steve, we gotta get to work."
He came into the kitchen wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my cheek while saying goodbye and telling me that he was glad I was back.
"You better come visit me at the DX alright," he said overdramatically while putting his hat back on, "I don't know if I can go through the day without seeing your face."
"Yeah, yeah," I said smiling as he left the house, "I'll be there."
I smiled to myself thinking that maybe everything was back to normal but I couldn't help but thinking if they'd always be that way. I mean could I just forget that all this had happened like they had? I thought I could but maybe, just maybe, I couldn't.
Chapter 14
The scent of coffee mixed with bacon filled the room and I woke up to the soothing aroma. I stretched a little as my eyes slowly blinked themselves open. I reached over beside me to snuggle closer to Sodapop but when I looked over I realized that I was alone. I sat up in bed and noticed the door was open. A feeling of awkwardness spread over me and I realized that now I would have to face the people that probably despised me if Soda had told them what had happened. What were Darry and Ponyboy going to think of me when they found out that I had kissed Two-Bit and hurt their brother who they cared for so deeply. I lay back down in bed hoping to get back to sleep to postpone the inevitable but unfortunately I had been seen.
"Hey Kathryn," Darry yelled from the kitchen surprisingly cheerfully, "C'mon out here while it's still hot."
I sat up and nodded to him although on the inside I was extremely confused. Then I thought that maybe it had all been a dream but knew that it had been to real for that to have been possible no matter how hard I wanted that to be true.
"Uh," I replied as I was trying to think of an intelligent response. Then it came to me, "Yeah, Ok."
I quickly jumped out of bed and realized I was still fully clothed. I decided to change before I went to eat breakfast since I didn't want them to notice that I had been wearing the same thing as the day before and besides that, it was getting a little dirty. I quickly undressed and replaced my outfit with a simple white dress with yellow trim on the bottom and on the sleeves that buttoned up at the chest. It had been one of my favourites since it was so comfortable and I had practically lived in it the month that my mom bought it for me. I patted down my hair and was about to re-do it when I realized that I was simply eating breakfast and these people didn't care how I looked.
I walked down the hall far to nervous then I should have been, still wondering whether or not Sodapop had told his family what had happened. If he had I didn't know whether or not I could take the judging eyes of Darry and Pony.
"I made pancakes a bacon," Darry called out when I reached the kitchen, "You're favourite."
I nodded in appreciation even though my favourite was actually waffles and sausage but it didn't really matter to me. It was nice to know that Darry had been considerate enough to make what he thought was my favourite as opposed to their normal breakfast consisting of both chocolate cake and milk.
I sat down at the table and quickly glanced at Ponyboy who didn't look up from his plate across to Sodapop who was dressed in his DX shirt and hat who flashed his shining smile at me. I returned the gesture before glancing back over to Pony. He seemed to know I was looking at him since the sound of his fork scrapping at his plate seemed to quicken with anxiety until it finally stopped.
"What?" he asked looking up at me with hostility in his voice.
I knew then that Soda had indeed confided in Ponyboy his feelings of anger he had toward me last night and he was obviously still upset with me for hurting his brother.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said as sweetly as I could, "I-I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
He seemed to have a look of sympathy in his eyes before they returned to his plate but there was still a hint of antagonism behind them.
"Well, I gotta go to work." Soda said standing up. "If I'm late, both the boss and Steve'll kill me." He walked over and kissed my forehead before walking into the kitchen to put away his dishes.
I thought about Steve for a second. Then I remembered that Two-Bit had told that boy from the vacant lot to bring him here but last night I saw Pony sleeping on the couch and not him. I felt a pain in my stomach caused by worry when I thought of what he may have done if he didn't came back here.
"Soda," I called out to him, "Did Stevie come back here last night?"
He turned around without making contact with me as he looked up a Darry and then finally to me.
"Yeah honey he did," he said in a quiet voice, "but he was umm to drunk to know what he was doing and he tried to start something again and then he just ran out. I tried to stop him but he said that if I came near him he'd try to hurt me for good."
I didn't understand how something like that could have happened the night before and Sodapop could be joking about Steve killing him if he was late for work.
"Well is he alright," I said standing up out of my chair, "How do you know he got home?"
"Don't worry," Soda said walking over to me and putting his hands on my shoulders, "Buck Merrill stopped by and said he found him down by the Nightly Double and made sure he got home alright."
"Oh thank god." I said relieved. The I looked up at Soda, "Are you sure he won't still be cross with you when you get to work?"
"Nah," Soda said smiling, "Ol' Steve won't even remember a thing from last night. He was far to-"
Then I heard the door swing open and the sound of playful whoops fill the room. I looked over Sodas shoulder to see Steve and Two-Bit plop down on the couch as Darry went out to meet them. How could they be here after all that had happened last night and act like nothing had happened at all?
"See what I mean," Soda said kissing my forehead, "What did I tell you. Everything is back to normal."
I just nodded at him before he left to join his friends in the living room. What was he talking about? Nothing was normal at all. I couldn't understand how these people were just tiptoeing around something that back in Kansas would've change peoples lives.
Reluctantly I followed Soda into the room and was instantly greeted by Steve picking me up and spinning me twice as usual before placing me back on the ground.
"Katty," he said after putting me down, "Looking good in your cute little white dress."
"Thanks Stevie," I said following his cue of friendliness, "I like it."
"Yeah Kat," I heard Two-Bit's voice say from the couch, "You're sure you want Sodapop now," he continued jokingly while putting Soda in a headlock, "Because you can always come to me."
I just stood there in disbelief as he joked about a matter that only yesterday had been such an issue it had almost caused me to leave Soda and go with Two-Bit. I glanced over at Ponyboy and the expression on his face was indescribable. It was as though he was thinking exactly what I was thinking yet he was angry at his brother and Two-Bit for making a joke out of it.
It continued on like this for a while longer and I couldn't bear to watch so I hid from it in the kitchen while I washed dishes. It worked for a few minutes but soon my plan had failed when I was joined by Two-Bit.
"Need some help Kat?" he said grabbing a towel, before playfully raising his eyebrows up and down and saying. "I'm a pro dish dryer."
I just looked up at him saying, "No I think I got it." There was unwanted unfriendliness in my voice but I couldn't help feeling that they were implying that last night wasn't to be taken seriously and they were viewing it as some big joke.
"What's the matter with you," he said grabbing a dish, then smirking at me, "You should really learn to lighten up."
"Well excuse me if I take things a little more seriously then others." I told him coolly grabbing the dish back from him.
His smile faded as I looked away from him and he put his hands on my shoulders forcing me to look him in the eye.
"Hey," he said in his serious voice he had used last night, "Is something wrong? You can tell me you know."
My eyes narrowed a bit as I opened my mouth trying to think of the words to say but nothing came. I just shook my head releasing myself from his grip. I turned to leave but he grabbed my arm and gently spun him around.
"Listen," he said in the same voice, "It's different here alright. We don't talk about things that happen like maybe some other people do. We're all each other has and we don't waste time on fighting because we don't want to risk ruining our friendship. So don't take us not discussing last night personal all right. That's just the way we are."
I nodded to let him know that I understood a little but I was still a bit unsure about they're lifestyle. It was strange how things like that could just roll off their back without any emotion shown at all. It didn't seem right. I watched as Two-Bit left and went back to join Darry and Steve watching television.
"You should be mad Sodapop," I heard Pony's voice say from the dining room, "I mean he didn't have to go and kiss her."
I walked closer to where Ponyboy and Soda were obviously discussing what had happened and felt a little relieved to know that at least someone was. Although I was a little sad since Ponyboy was so upset.
"Aww baby," Soda said to his little brother reassuringly, "Why would I be mad. I mean hell; she's a great girl. He was probably just probably trying to make sure that he didn't love her. You know how important a kiss is. He was just seeing that his feelings were in fact just a crush rather than love. Besides, she came back didn't she? It's not like anything happened. She came here, not to his house."
"I guess you're right." Pony said finally, "But he still shoulda told you first. I just didn't like seeing you that upset Soda."
"It's okay now anyway Pony," He said, "Everything is back to normal." Then he yelled out to Steve, "Come on Steve, we gotta get to work."
He came into the kitchen wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my cheek while saying goodbye and telling me that he was glad I was back.
"You better come visit me at the DX alright," he said overdramatically while putting his hat back on, "I don't know if I can go through the day without seeing your face."
"Yeah, yeah," I said smiling as he left the house, "I'll be there."
I smiled to myself thinking that maybe everything was back to normal but I couldn't help but thinking if they'd always be that way. I mean could I just forget that all this had happened like they had? I thought I could but maybe, just maybe, I couldn't.